Machine for operating on wood strips



G. O. P KUNICKE. MACHINE FOR OPERATING 0N WOOD STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZY, l9?0.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

5 SHE'ETSSH'EET 1.

WITNESSES krromvns e. o. P KUNICKE. I MACHINE, FOR OPERATING 0N WOOD STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZT, I9?0. I V Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHIN 2. iv W J I I 5y ATTORNEYS G. O. P KUNICKE. MACHINE FOR OPERATING 0N WOOD STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1920.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES G. 0. P KUNICKE. MACHINE FOR OPERATING 0N WOOD STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZ], I970. I 1,355,749. Patented Oct 12,1920.

WITNESSES com/aw v V "87 g ATTORNEYS G. O. P KUNICKE. MACHINE FOR OPERATING 0N woon STRIPS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. I9?O. 1,355,749. Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

NM mmug/v r01? 0 RIfU/V/C/ff' ATTORNEYS GEORGE 0. P. KUNICKE, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING N woon srmrs.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. P. KUNIokE a citizen ofGermany, and a resident of rlainfield, in the county of Un on and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Operating on WVood Strips, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates more particularly to a machine for performing certaln operations on the wood strips entering into the pneumatics of player pianos, two of sa d strips being employed in the pneumatic. At one end where the strips converge when in use, the strips are formed at the opposed side edges with shallow grooves to accommodate the material of the bellows. Also, in one of said strips at the back two blind punctures or depressions are produced to receive the screws .of the operating arm of the pneumatic action. The punctures are produced to prevent the screws from splitting the strip and for a similar reasonthe punctures are out of, longitudinal. alinement. I

My invention has for its object to produce a machine to automatically groove and puncture the strips.

Reference isto'be hadto the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of one example of the invention. 1

Figure l'is a side elevationof a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section in a plane corresponding with the line 22 Fig.3, 'f'

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the bed and the parts directly associated therewith, the

Fig. 6 is an end view, a portion of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1 920.

Application filed May 27, 1920. Serial No. 384,679. 9

machine at the top being broken away. and others in section;

Fig. 7 is aplanview partly broken away and in section of the vertically reciprocating puncturlng head;

. 1g. 8 is a transverse vertical section on the line 8-8, Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a detail in end view looking in the direction of the arrow 9 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section as indicated by the line 11-11, Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a transverse verticalsection as indicated by the line 12 12,F ig. 2; r

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of one end of i the machine at the opposite side froIn'Fig. 1;

. Fig.14: is a perspectiveview of the strip having the edge grooves and punctures formed therein by my machine.

a 1 In carrying out my invention in practice in accordance witlithe illustrated example, strips A are stacked in a holder designated generally by the numeral 15, at the side of which is a pusherplate 16 adapted to laterally reciprocate to displace the lowermost strip of'the stack and move the same transversely, to dispose the strip finally in the position indicated by the letter a in Fig. 3, alongside of a longitudinal gage bar '17 disposed on the bed 18 of themachine and with one end of the strip beneath a thrust block 19 secured asby a bolt 19, said end of the strip and said thrust block being directly abovea puncturing head 20 provided with pins 20 and adapted to bereciprocated through a vertical opening 18 in the bed 18. Said pins produce blind punctures a (Fig. 14) in one face of the strip out of line with each other, adapted to receive the screws to secure the usual operating arm to said pneumatic.

When the strip is positioned at the dotted line position a of Fig. 3 and with one end under the thrust block 19 as stated, said stripis at the same time disposed beneath a traveling feed belt 21 disposed longitudinallv of the machineabove the bed thereof, to frictionally engagethe top surface of said strip. Said belt runs about rollers 22 mounted in' a frame 22, the forward end of which is secured by a transverse shaft on. which said frame is loosely mounted to be rocked in a vertical plane by means hereinafter described to permit an arriving strip to pass beneath the belt 21. The belt 21 feeds the strip forwardly onto .a second endless belt .24 traveling approximately flush with the surface of the bed '18, there being a feed'roller 25 for thestrip above one of the rollers 24 about which said belt 24. travels. The roller 25 feeds the strip "forwardly to a pair of saws 26 on a transverse shaft or arbor 26 for producing grooves a at opposite sides of the strip A in avface thereof and extending from one.

end a short distance longitudinally of the strip. In response to the feeding action of the roller and its pressurefon the strip A and hence on the belt 24, said 'belt will travel forwardly with the strip thereby minimizing friction. V

The saws 26 and roller 25 are so disposed relatively to each other and relatively to '20 the length of'the strip that said strip will shown for the purposein the illustratedeX- ample (see Fig. 2)' a plate spring 27 disposed longitudinally, said spring being returned at the :under side and formed with a'bent terminal 27 secured to any suitable supporting structure 27.

r The 'stack holder 15 is formed with'a'n adjustable side 28 and an adjustable end 29 for varying the effective size of the box to. suit strips of different sizes, the means provided for the adjustment in the illustrated example being as follows: On the side 28 (see'Fig 6) adjacent to one edge and near :the bottom an adjusting screw 30 is provided-extending through a slot 31 in the fixed end 'wallbf the box, said end wall being a continuation of the vertical end plate '48 secured to the machine structure abovethebed 18'. The plate 28 is adjustably. secured at its'opposite edge at the '50 top'ofthe plate as follows: Anelement 36 is secured to the top of said plate 28 by a screw bolt 37 or the like and" has a pin or bolt 33 above and parallel with thetop edge of said plate, whichpinis adapted to move 7 5'5 in'a slot 34 in an arm'35 extending laterally inward from an -upward extension 29 on the'end plate'29j The screw bolt 37 securmg the element 36 to side plate 28 passes through-a longitudinal slot 38 in said side '60 plate sothat it may move in said slot and .thereby the element 36 and the end plate 29 may be'adjustedto conform to a strip A of given'length. In agiven adjusted position of the side plate 28 it is backed up 5 by angle braces 28, the positions of said ment thereof, a hanger 66 is rigidlyfasten'ed braces being indicated in dotted lines, Fig.

.Said braces have longitudinal slots 28 through which screws,28 ,pass into the upper edge of the adjacent side wall 47 of.

thesuper-structure. V

.As seen best in Fig. 13 the endwall 29 is adjustably-secured at itslower edge,,there being a block 40 thereon receiving a transadj ustmentof thestack holdertosuit astrip of given length; 'The'sides '47 are-held by bolts 49 and 50, thelatter bolt being adapted to turn in a bearing 50-s'ecured'to the-bed 18. The end 48 is detaehably fastened to the bed by'brackets 51 receiving. screws 52. The super-structureiis arranged" to be'raised from the bed18 by swinging it about'the bolt 50 as a-center. In order to permitthe superstructure'to be'raised'it is necessary only to unfastenthe brackets 51 from the bed 18 or end 48 and removethe bolt 91 to disconnect the frame 22 from its operating arm 88, hereinafter referred to. 'The'bed 18 is supported-on any suitable frame The pusher plate 16 is formed with an arm 54 at the backv thereof extending laterallyoutward formed with a slot '55 which receives a screw 56 to adjustably secure said plate'to a carrier frame including a bracket 57 having a dependent flange '59 through which a'bolt 58 passes into a frame member 60 to a" longitudinal member60 of :frame element 60 whichis "bent twiceat right anglesto present at one end a terminal flange 61 rigid with a] transverse bar 62 to the inner end of which is connected one-end of the retractile spring 63, the opposite end ofwhich spring is suitably secured'as at 64 to a fixed part of the'machine. Said'spring 63 tends toidraw thepusher'16toward the stack to feed a strip A from the bottom-of the stack laterally inward toward theelement 17. "The frame member 60*and bar 62'have guided movement in-any'suit-able members such as hangers 65, 65, at the under side of the bed '18. To retract the pusher plate 16 after 'an'inward'feed moveat its-upper enda's' by a pinfl67fto the frame member 60 and depends therefrom. ,The lower end of said hanger is provided with a horizontal roller 68,'-the shank of which extendsinto the hanger and is fastened by 1 30 a set screw 69. Said roller engages a revolving cam mounted on a transverse shaft 71. The arrangement is such that the turning of the cam 70 alternately moves the plate 16 outwardly and permits said plate to move inwardly under the action ofthe spring 63. The amplitude of movement given to the pusher plate 16 will depend on the width of the strips A to be operated upon. In practice, there will be on the bed in'addition to'the strip adjacent to the gage 17 one or more additional strips between the first-mentioned strip and those in the stack. The movement of the pusher plate 16 will be sufficient to successively place the'strips against the gage 17 as the'strips are successively moved forward by the belt 21; The

a e 17 has at its outer end a transverse head 71 having a bottom plate 72 overlapping the bed 18 at the under side and said gage'is adjustable transversely of the bed by reason of a bolt 73 and nut 74, said bolt passingthrough said gage l7 and through 1 'a slot 75 in the bed 18 and a registering slot in the plate 76Vat the under side of the bed.

For vertically reciprocating the puncturing head 20, said head is rigidwith a broad upright member 77 on the lower end of' which is a roller 78 resting on the periphery of a cam 79 fast onthe shaft 71. The roller 78 turns on a transverse pin or screw 81 in the forked lower end of element 77. Said element has guided vertical movement be tween cross bars 82 rigid with the frame 53. The head 20 is adjustable transversely of the machine;-for the purpose a screw 83 in said head extends into a transverse groove 84 in the reciprocating element 77; A retractile'spring 85 is secured at one end of'the element 77 and at its other end to the bolt 87 V or other fixed element of the machine, said spring serving to draw the head 20 downwardly below the surface of the bed 18, a slot or opening 18 permitting the up and down movements of the head 20. and its pins 20 to produce the blind punctures a in the strip A positioned above said head. In'order that the frame 22 be raised from the bed 18 for permitting the entrance of a feed strip beneath the belt 21 and thrust block 19, the frame 22carrying the belt 21 has secured thereto, by the transverse bolt 91 hereinbefore mentioned, an L-shaped arm 88, said arm at its lower end being secured also by screws 89 to the reciprocating ele ment 77. Thus, as the cam 79 raises the head 20 the frame 22 and belt 21 will also-be raised for the entrance of a strip thereplates 47 and bolt 23 passing through said plates, secures the same to the side plates 47.

r The shaft 25 of roller 25 is carried by a left and engaging a turnbuckle 96, the turning of which in 'aproper direction will loosen or tighten said bolts.

Washers 97 on the bolts 95 overlap the side plates 47 to have binding engagement against thesame for locking the frame 92 against movement. In order to vertically adjust the roller 25 for different thicknesses of strips thebearings 25" of the shaft 25 have rigid therewith side uprights 98 connected by across bar 99 to which is swiveled the lower end .of

a lever screw 10 but having threaded'engagement with the frame 92 so that the turnmg of said screw Wlll raise or lower the bearings 25.

- Provision is madefor adjusting the height of the saws 26 above the table 18 to suit strips of different thicknesses. In the illustrated example at one side of the machine a bearing block 102 is provided in which saw arbor or shaft 26 'turns at one side, the reduced end of said shaft at the opposite side of the machine turning infa bearing 102, said bearings being vertically adjustable respectively in slots 108, 104 in the opposite side plates 47 f Atransverse bolt 106 passes through one end of the bearing 102 and at the opposite end through a bearing 105 slidable in a slot 104. The bearing 102 has 'alateral flange 107" overlapping "the outer surface of the adjacent side plate 47 t and that nut 107 on the bolt 1.06 adjacent to the bearing 105 has a broad washer 107 to bear against the adjacent side plate 47 so vthat the tightening or loosening of the nuts 1107 :will firmly hold the bearings inthe adjusted position with the saws 26 at a proper height above the bed. 7

Rigidly secured at one eiidtO-the bearing 102 by'sc rews 108 is a barl08 disposed-ion gitudinally 0f the machine adjacent to a side 47 and at the. ends of: said bar 108 clamps 109 are provided, consisting of ele- :ments integral withsaid .bar, 108 and at right angles thereto and separate clamp bars 109 secured by the clamp screws 109". Said clamps serve to hold upstanding plates 110, carrying curved guards'lll, 111 disposed respectively at the front and back of the saws26, theone-111 being disposed over the spring 27 controlling the exit of the strip from the machine while the other is the saw teeth will grip the strip and give it 7 a quick forward movement to discharge it from the machine. The spring 27 retards the outgoing strip. The action of the saws will be to tilt the frontend, of the strip downwardlyand the rear end upwardly and the upward tilting movement-willbe arrested-by the guard 111 which also prevents the strip from again being thrown against the saws, As the strip moves over the spring 27 under the impetus imparted to it 'by the saws, it will move between said spring and the second guard 111 and be guided out of the machine with reduced speed. The guards 111,111 are adjustable vertically by reason of the clamps 109 to suit strips'varying as to thickness. I

Any suitable drive means maybe provided for the revoluble parts, there being indicated one arrangement for the purpose. comprising a shaft 112 adapted tobe driven by any suitable means (not shown) and having a pulley 113 from which a belt 114 runs to'a pulley 115 on the saw shaft 26*. A second belt 116 runs from asecond pulley 117 on shaft 26" to and about a pulley 118 on the shaft on roller 25, said belt 116 in prac- .of the top surface of the bed 18.

tice preferably extending about a belt tightener consisting of rollers 119'in bearings 120 fitted in slots 121 in the frame'53. From a second pulley 122'on the powershaft 112 runs a belt 123 to a pulley 124 on the cam shaft 71, said shaft having a second-pulley 125 from which a belt 126'runs to a pulley 127 on the shaft-23 driving the belt 21. 7

With the above described construction the pusher plate 16 for feeding the'strips is timed to cause a strip to be positioned adjacent to the gage 17 and beneath the thrust block 19 as thebelt21 rises but beforethe puncturing pins 28 are raised to the level After the puncturing head 20 is loweredto withdraw the pins-28* from the strip'the belt 21 will belowered against" the strip and will feed the same forward to the roller 25 so that it will pass along and over the belt 24 which moves with the strip. Upon V the strip arrivingat the saws it will be held a sufficient time for the grooves a to be produced a sufficient length after which the saw will throw the strip out of the machine as described. I

assumes myself strictly to the-mechanical details herein illustrated, since :mani-festly the same can be considerably variedwithout departure from 'thespirit of the invention: as defined in :the appended-claims.

-Having thus described my invention, I claim:.

1. A machine ofthe class described, in cludingza bed, a holder for stacked-strips, a uncturing means, means to-feed the strips laterally in single succession from the holder :to the puncturingmeans, means to cause the punctured strips to travel from said puncturing means longitudinally ofthe machine, and saws to which said second means deliver punctured strips, said sawsbeing positionedto cut grooves in'thestrip atthesides,v

2. Amachine for. puncturing and grooving strips including puncturing means, a grooving saw distant from the puncturing means, and means to cause the punctured strips to travel to said saw,-sa id last-mentioned means including a feed roller between the puncturing means and :saw and sufliciently distant from/the latter to act upon the .strip while it travels a predetermined distancebeneath the saw.

3. A strip puncturing and grooving machine including a bed, a vertically reciproeating puncturing device at the under side of said bed and-movable through the latter to act on a strip, a groovingsaw distant from the puncturing means, a vertically movable feed means above'the bed adjacent to the puncturing-means between the latter and the saw, means to operate the puncturing means and said feed means and timed towraise said feed means for'permitting the entrance therebeneath of a strip as the puncturingdevice rises through the bed and to lower the feed means as the puncturing means descends, and additional feed. means between the first-mentioned feed means and the saw. r

4. In a machine of the class described, having a bed, a vertically reciprocating puncturing device at the under sideof, said bed and movable throughthe latter to act on a strip, a'traveling belt disposed longitudinally of the machine on said bed and carrying it away from said puncturing device, and 'means to raise and lower said ing wood strips,-including a bed, a puncturing device, means to deliver strips to the uncturin fdevice. a roovin sawdis osed above'the bed distant from the puncturing device, a feed rollerabovethe bed, between the puncturing device and the saw, and means to cause the strips to-move from the puncturing device to said feed roller, said vvertically movable topermit entrance of the a strip orto frictionally engage thesame for feed roller being such a distance from the 5 traversed said predetermined distance.

6. A machine for puncturing and grooving wood strips, including a bed, a puncturing device, means to deliver strips to the puncturing device, a grooving saw disposed above the bed distant from thepuncturing device, a feed roller above the bed, between the puncturing device and the saw, and means to cause the strips to move from the puncturing device to said feed roller, said feed roller being such a distance from the saw as to act on the strip while the latter is moving a predetermined distance beneath the saw and to free the strip when it has traversed said predetermined distance; together with means to adjust said feed roller toward or from the saw to suit strips of different lengths.

7. In a machine for operating on grooved strips, a grooving saw, and means to feed material to said saw, said means including a feed element such a distance from the saw as to act on the strip While it travels a predetermined distance beneath the saw, and

to release the strip after said predetermined travel so that the saw teeth will give a discharging movement to the strip; together with resilient means in the path of the out going strip to cause the strip to discharge at a reduced speed.

8. In a machine for operating on grooved strips, a grooving saw, and means to feed material to said saw, said means including a feedelement such a distance from the saw as to act on the strip while it travels a predetermined distance beneath the saw, and to release the strip after said predetermined travel so that the saw teeth will give a discharging movement to the strip; togetherwith resilient means in the path of the outgoing strip to cause the strip to discharge at a reduced speed; a guard at the frontof the saw above the bed, to prevent the strip from being thrown againstithe saw, and a second guard at the back of the saw and above said resilient means a distance to permit passage of the strip between said resilient means and said second-mentioned guard.

GEORGE O. P. KUNICKE. 

